Airways International, the commercial arm of New Zealand’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) service provider Airways New Zealand, has been contracted by its Australian counterpart to provide simulator training for its staff.
Airservices Australia is the country’s air navigation service provider (ANSP) and has inked the three-year deal for the use of a mobile simulator and new designs of simulator exercises.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The platform will allow training to be delivered via the cloud, via the “sim in a suitcase” TotalController system. This single unit will be moved around Australian ATC/ANSP sites to deliver the training nationwide.
Airways will provide a remote simulation pilot service – with Airways staff acting as pilots in the simulator, creating simulator exercises and building new (digital) aerodromes from their base in New Zealand.
It is the first “simulation as a service” contract is a new avenue for Airways, which has previously sold and facilitated physical training hubs, like the recently opened simulator in Croatia.
Airways International CEO Sharon Cooke said when other ATC providers see the system in action, more contracts will follow.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData“Our investment in TotalControl’s cloud-based simulation and the expertise we’ve developed in the provision of remote simulation services for Airways in New Zealand sees us well placed to deliver this model for Airservices Australia.
“We expect that the simulation-as-a-service model will gain traction with our customers in coming years, as we understand the challenges that come with maintaining your own simulator, as well as staffing for the variability of simulation services. We look forward to hearing about the benefits of the service for Airservices Australia,” she explained.
Airservices Australia Head of Operational Training and Resourcing, Marcus Knauer said Airservices’ air traffic controllers would benefit from having access to training technology that can easily customise training exercises, allowing for practice of critical air traffic control skills.
“Airservices will trial this technology initially with Airways International developing a TrueView replication of operations at Sydney Tower commencing in September 2024 – we’ll then extend to a further five aerodromes with a focus on compromised separation exercises.
“This mobile technology solution will enable the delivery of training locally and support operational continuity through reduced disruption to work schedules,” he said.
